OMS Chapter 36

Trying to keep up until I couldn’t stand anymore was definitely pushing it.

Thanks to the power of the Saintess, getting my heart pierced didn’t kill me, but at the end of the day, I’m still a 43-year-old man. I’m in decent shape, with strong legs and back, but there’s no way I can compete with the stamina of a young knight.

I told him not to hold back.

I did say that.

But I never expected it to end up like that.

From now on, I should be more careful with how much I provoke him.

As for Viirant, who successfully “overwhelmed” me, he looked radiant, even from an outsider’s perspective. Maybe it was because I’d poured most of the remaining holy power into his protection. Or maybe… something else.

…I had a strong feeling it was the latter, but it felt like something I shouldn’t ask.

Now unable to even get out of bed, I lay there as Viirant took care of me, looking oddly happy, giving me a shy smile whenever our eyes met.

With him looking so happy, I couldn’t exactly stay sulky.

As I playfully ruffled his hair in a small act of revenge, there was a knock at the door to the adjoining room.

It was Dirk and an elderly man in a white coat—probably the doctor skilled in light magic.

“Ah… sorry to call you out here.”

“Oh, not at all! We can’t be moving someone with serious injuries, after all.”

“I’m perfectly fine now, but no one believes me.”

Even though he had been so intense last night, Viirant insisted that this was a separate issue. He wouldn’t be at ease unless my arrow wound had fully healed and my heart was in good condition.

When it comes to my health, Viirant no longer trusts my own judgment. …And honestly, I can’t blame him.

Relieved when the doctor said an over-the-clothes examination would be fine, I watched as he hovered his hand over my chest.

Apparently, he was able to see through my body to check my organs. It was fascinating, different from any healing method using holy magic. I’d been relying on holy magic exclusively until now, but learning other forms of magic might be fun too.

A soft light emitted from the doctor’s hand, and I felt a warm sensation in my chest.

I couldn’t help but wonder what my heart looked like, though unfortunately, I couldn’t see it for myself.

“This is… truly remarkable. Saintess-sama.”

“Eh?”

“Congratulations on your full recovery, from the bottom of my heart.”

How did he figure out I was the Saintess…? Oh, well, I guess that would be obvious.

The fact that Viirant, a hero, was so devoted to taking care of me, the fact that I was still alive after getting my heart pierced, and the fact that even my heart had healed… it’s not hard to deduce.

…Though even among the previous Saintesses, only a few could heal their own hearts. It’s not surprising that I’m a bit of an anomaly.

“Uh… thank you…”

“I won’t take up much of your time, but may I summon the commander?”

“So… does that mean he already knows?”

“I’m fairly certain he does.”

Of course.

The commander must have been informed when one of the Saintess’s knights was injured. With the medical reports and Viirant’s behavior combined, it would’ve been impossible not to figure out my identity.

…I’m the one who got injured, so I guess I only have myself to blame, but still… it’s a headache.

I sighed deeply, unsure of what kind of face I should even make.

✢

When the commander, summoned by the doctor, entered the room, he immediately prostrated himself, his forehead pressed against the floor.

Since the bed would have been an inappropriate place for such a meeting, I had been moved to the room with the sofa set.

Now seated on the sofa after being carried over princess-style, I had Viirant and Dirk standing behind me, while Kahim stood near the entrance.

In other words, the four of us were looking down at the commander as he groveled before us.

Um… what is this situation?

Why is he bowing like that?

Shouldn’t I be the one apologizing for causing so much trouble?

I looked around for help, but everyone else had calm, indifferent expressions.

Why are they acting like this is completely normal?

What exactly happened while I was unconscious?

I couldn’t tell from the back of his head, but was this the same commander I met back then? The one with the seasoned air of a veteran? And now he’s suddenly groveling?

“Um… please raise your head. I should be the one apologizing… should I be the one bowing instead?”

“That would be absurd. Why would you need to apologize?”

“Well, because I caused a lot of trouble.”

I looked up at Viirant, who was holding me in place on the sofa, furrowing my brow at his words.

Think about it from the commander’s perspective.

One of the knights serving directly under the Saintess arrived, only to be gravely injured in battle against the Demon King.

…Then rumors started circulating that the knight was actually the Saintess herself. She had been shot through the heart but hadn’t died, though it wasn’t certain how long she’d survive.

If the Saintess dies, this fortress and the country would be in serious trouble. There would be major issues of responsibility to consider.

Viirant must have been on edge the whole time, and the amount of stress the commander had to deal with… yeah, I really do feel like bowing would be necessary.

If bowing as a Saintess is too much, I at least want to talk face to face with him.

This whole situation is making me feel too guilty.

“Get up. Don’t trouble him any further.”

Um… Viirant?

That’s kind of scary.

Sure, I want to talk face to face, but you don’t have to be that intimidating, do you…?

Why are you so mad??

The commander quickly stood up, and I recognized him as the same person from a month ago.

But the air of a seasoned veteran was completely gone, replaced with someone clearly overwhelmed by Viirant’s presence.

And, honestly, Viirant has been scarily intense.

The full force of the hero’s intimidation isn’t something you should direct at a person. He’s not the Demon King, after all.

“I deeply apologize.”

The commander bowed deeply once again as he sat down on the sofa.

…Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what he’s apologizing for.

I tried to prompt him to explain, and the commander began to speak with a pale face.

Viirant, could you please stop intimidating him?

✢

Here’s the summary of what the commander told me.

There’s always been a lot of dissatisfaction with the Saintess in this region. Despite the increasing number of magical beasts, the Saintess never did anything to help. She stayed safe and comfortable in the temple, never paying attention to the struggles of those in the frontier.

…And honestly, it’s understandable. There really hadn’t been much support coming from the Saintess.

The motto of this fortress had always been, “We protect our own fortress!”

Since they couldn’t count on the Saintess to help, they had to rely on themselves.

That’s how things were for a long time, and by the time we arrived, it had already become ingrained in their minds.

When we, a mere group of four knights, arrived during a time of concern over a magical beast stampede, it’s no wonder the commander felt dissatisfied.

That’s why, on that day, he had vented his long-held frustration on us.

And then, after I collapsed, while they were frantically dealing with the stampede, the commander had let some words slip while asking for a doctor.

He had muttered things like, “What kind of knight nearly dies on their first day?” and “Looks like the pampered knights from the royal capital can’t even handle a single arrow.”

――Well… that explains a lot…

I guess I understand why the others were so cold toward him.

If it had been anyone other than the normally calm Dirk who heard those comments, the commander might not still be alive today.

Viirant would’ve probably lost his temper and beheaded him, and Kahim would’ve silently plotted revenge, maybe even poisoning him. He’s very devoted to the Saintess, so any insult toward me would’ve been unforgivable in his eyes.

Knowing I had been injured fighting the Demon King made those remarks even more intolerable.

Kahim had left the fortress soon after, but the two who remained had completely ignored the commander after that.

Dirk, while tending to my care and helping with the medical team, and Viirant, who was mowing down magical beasts left and right, both treated the commander like he didn’t exist.

When the commander tried to give orders to Viirant, he’d been cut off with, “I only take orders from my master. I don’t even want to see the face of someone who insulted my comrades,” in front of the soldiers.

The commander had been ostracized by the hero’s followers, looked down upon by the medical team that Dirk was working with, and finally, after the worst of the stampede had passed, he had discovered the doctor’s report buried in paperwork, which made him realize everything.

That the knight who collapsed on their first day was none other than the Saintess.

That the cursed arrow suggested their opponent was likely the Demon King.

And that he had insulted someone like that.

“I also learned about the path your group had taken on your journey here… Every place you passed had been suffering from heavy magical beast damage, and the attacks stopped after you passed through. Without realizing it, I had said so many disrespectful things… I am truly, deeply sorry.”

…But honestly, I’m the one who should be apologizing.

I understand the situation now. But this all happened because I’d kept my identity as the Saintess hidden.

Sure, he said some insulting things, but I didn’t hear them firsthand, and it’s not like they were totally unjustified. I mean, if someone who came to help almost died on their first day, anyone would want to complain a little.

Especially while dealing with a magical beast stampede, tempers would be high.

I don’t really need an apology for that.

“Uh… it’s more my fault for hiding my identity and causing trouble. Yes, it was the Demon King who shot the arrow, but Viirant defeated him, so you can rest easy. I apologize that I collapsed before we could prevent the stampede.”

“Please don’t say that! Do you realize how much we were saved by your holy arrows and healing potions? Upon later investigation, we discovered that the holy trees you planted throughout the forest slowed the progress of the magical beasts. The fact that the hero himself was able to help us during such an unprecedented crisis is a miracle… I’m truly, deeply sorry, and thank you.”

“Well, if we were able to help, I’m glad. But the ones you should be thanking or apologizing to are the others. I was just sleeping the whole time—they’re the ones who did all the hard work.”

I shrugged, and the commander obediently turned and bowed to the others. He may have a habit of letting complaints slip, but it seems he’s pretty straightforward at heart.

Thanks to that, it looked like Dirk and Kahim’s mood had improved. The tense atmosphere had eased, and the pressure in the room was lifting.

As for Viirant… well, he was still not having it. He hadn’t entirely forgiven the commander, and his gaze remained cold and piercing.

It made me happy to see him so angry on my behalf, but I couldn’t help but laugh awkwardly.

I didn’t want him to get in an even worse mood by staying here longer, so I decided it was time to wrap things up.

“Well, now that everything’s settled… I’ll be heading into the forest again tomorrow, so let’s get back to work.”

I raised a hand casually, and suddenly, all eyes were on me.

…Why do their stares feel so intense?